The AVC Marauder soccer team finished their season on a good note with an impressive 5-1 road victory over Foothill
Conference rivals Mt. San Jacinto, and finished with an overall record of 7-9-3 and a conference record of 4-5-3, as they placed fifth.
“Over the last few weeks our attacks has got better and our offense has got more productive which has been our issue for the season,” AVC head coach Jerry Stupar said. “The fact that we got three goals in the first half, leading 3-0 at halftime was great.”
For the first time since 2007, which was then under head coach Lemuel Galvao, AVC finished with a losing record. This season also marks the first time AVC has finished just under .500 under Stupar. In his 15 plus years of coaching, this season is Stupar’s first losing season.
“I’m not bothered that we were just under .500 … my prediction was us at being .600,” Stupar said. “It’s a learning experience ... we just gelled a little bit late,” Stupar said about his predominantly freshmen team.
In the final seven games of the season AVC was 3-3-1. The record shows them even stevens at .500. What it doesn’t show is the on-the-field improvement, since the Marauders had been inconsistent all year long. During the final stretch AVC toughened up and tightened up the defense against top five teams such as San Bernardino Valley, Chaffey, and Rio Hondo, in which they lost all three games by the score of 1-0. The offense was more uncertain and more of a concern heading into every game.
“Our goal against average is great it’s under 1 on the year, the question of every match was ‘hey are we going to score’?
“I think this 2010 team defensively did better than the 2008 team did,” Stupar said. “We ended the season with 24 goals against, which is the second best in school history, so I’m proud of that.
The 2008 team was a predominantly freshman team that allowed 33 goals. The 2009 team holds the best record as they allowed just nine goals. Scoring 24 goals offensively hindered them this year. At the collegiate level 24 goals scoring and against for just doesn’t cut it.
Stupar is expecting a high return rate next season. Hopefully, the chemistry will be identical to the 2009 team and some offense will be generated. Of his 18 freshman, he cites to retain at least a dozen of them. He also expects sophomores Rosana “Rosie”
Reyes, Rebecca Milian, Vanessa Guzzetti, and Julia Celebron to return. The four players missed this year’s season because of the lack of class units obtained. Each individual athlete enrolled at AVC must meet the required amount of units to participate in athletic activities. Returning freshmen with experience and four experienced sophomores that are anxious head back to the turf is music to Stupar’s ears. Another forward, like Rosana Reyes, is the perfect complement to AVC’s leading scorer Beatrice Giles.
While Guzzetti poses a scoring threat to defenses as a winger.
AVC lost three sophomores this year—Monica Parra, Danielle Skidmore, and Breanna Dundes. Dundes was the goalkeeper, a position that is now void and is up for the taking.
“She’s a good keeper,” Stupar said. “To have two solid goal keepers two years in a row is outstanding.
“That’s going to be probably our biggest challenge next year, is getting a solid goalkeeper,” Stupar said.
Getting someone out in training for spring and through summer as soon as possible is all it takes. Stupar believes that alumni’s
Dundes and mentor Thannia Huerta will be in training to keep in shape as they prepare to play at the next collegiate level.
Huerta played for Stupar during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. She holds the record for goals allowed in a season.
“Both those goal keepers have goals against average under 1 and both have been looked at by big schools,” Stupar said.
Toughest Challenge of the Year
“The toughest challenge,” Stupar said “was getting them all on the same page tactically.” AVC had eight or more players that didn’t have any club experience, which means they either played high school or AYSO. Off the field the girls got along too well, on the field however it took a little while to build some chemistry.
Biggest Surprise This Season
“It depends on if you’re looking on the negative side or positive side,” Stupar said humorously. “If you’re looking on a negative note, I think this team underperformed,” Stupar said. Once again the time it took for AVC to develop some chemistry can be accredited. “On a positive side, the comradery that they had was very exciting,” Stupar said.
Next Season’s Predictions
Stupar believes that if he has the missing pieces to the puzzle, a first ever first place at conference, as well as some postseason play awaits for AVC.
“This was a tough conference this year.” Stupar said. “I think we’ll have a good chance at keeping the goals against under 15 next year. I definitely think we have a strong chance at postseason play.”
Spring Training
The 2010 season is in the books. It’s time to prepare for the 2011 season and it all starts during the spring semester. Spring training is going to be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day at either Marauder Stadium or the soccer field.
And just as always, coach Stupar encourages anyone with a background in soccer to come out and participate. If you have a background in soccer, attend AVC, or live local coach should know who you are.
“There are great female players on this campus that don’t try out that can really contribute to this school,” Stupar said.
Defensive prodigies Courtney Meza, Melissa Heredia and Carla Hager attended AVC last year but weren’t on the team. They didn’t try out for undisclosed reasons. These three were the voids that the record breaking 2009 playoff team desperately needed.
A lot of players are intimidated because they are an odd number of years out of high school and haven’t played in a while. Stupar wants to remind everyone not to be deterred and come out and play and “come be a part of something big.”
There are talented players that currently attend AVC that haven’t laced their cleats up and represented the maroon and silver soccer team. Such players include Shawna Saita, Brittney Rather, and Courtney Ellis.
The more, the merrier. The more, the better the chances of winning the ridiculously competitive Foothill Conference. The more, the better the chance of making a deep playoff run. The more, the better the chance of making history.
-By Donjai Richardson
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
NEWS: The Palmdale Plaza hosts 2nd annual Achievement Gap Conference
The second annual Bridging the Achievement Gap Conference was held November 6 at the Palmdale Learning Plaza, giving administrators, educators, parents, and community members effective strategies to help close the persisting achievement gap.
“There is an achievement gap between the test scores, student achievement scores, of African-American students, students with disabilities, students impoverished homes, students where English is not the first language spoken at home, there is an achievement gap between those families and White cohorts,” Superintendent Roger Gallizzi said.
The purpose of this conference is to address that issue, to talk about it, look at strategies to close that gap and address it from a variety of different perspectives, such as teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members.
The conference featured workshops and in-depth discussions regarding the necessary needs of Hispanics, African-Americans, special education students, and the socioeconomically disadvantage.
Gallizzi, the Superintendent of the Palmdale School District, held a workshop that was for faith-based organizations and people of the community. His presentation targeted pastors, ministries, priests, and bishops and their roles as community leaders to help close the gap.
Director of migrant, immigrant, and English learner programs for the Palmdale School District, Geoff Brown held a workshop that centered on English learners and other underachieving students. He believes his philosophical method of using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model, is a valuable approach in closing the gap.
The SIOP model is distinct in that it offers a field-tested protocol for systematic lesson planning, delivery, and assessment, making its application for teaching English learners transparent for both pre-service candidates preparing to be teachers and for practicing teachers engaged in staff development.
“The main thing that I think is important is that we really have to have high expectations for our students and know that they can achieve,” Brown said. “And when we do that, that’s the most important hurdle to get over, hold those high expectations and not accept anything less than our kids’ best.”
Perhaps the most enticing, entertaining, and encouraging was keynote speaker, Larry Bell.
Bell has been the keynote speaker at many conferences across the country including the National Association of Multicultural Education Conference and hundreds of other local and regional conferences.
Bell is a 25-year veteran in education—he’s been nominated for the National Agnes Mayer Outstanding Teacher Award. Bell discussed high expectations, test preparation strategies for all students, as well as motivational techniques to use in the classroom and at home.
According to the California Department of Education’s 2009-2010, the Academic Performance Index (API) reports, that the API scores for Hispanics in the Palmdale School District was 723. It was even lower for the African American population with a score of 675 when compared to a score of 795 for White students and a soaring score of 862 for Asians.
Bell says that believing in the children, believing in yourself, and do the little things everyday such as encouraging kids, doing vocabulary, reading every day, and never accept an excuse can be critical.
“The most effective way to get kids to do this as an adult is to be excited about it yourself,” Bell said. “The number one way to inspire children is to be inspired yourself.”
“There is an achievement gap between the test scores, student achievement scores, of African-American students, students with disabilities, students impoverished homes, students where English is not the first language spoken at home, there is an achievement gap between those families and White cohorts,” Superintendent Roger Gallizzi said.
The purpose of this conference is to address that issue, to talk about it, look at strategies to close that gap and address it from a variety of different perspectives, such as teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members.
The conference featured workshops and in-depth discussions regarding the necessary needs of Hispanics, African-Americans, special education students, and the socioeconomically disadvantage.
Gallizzi, the Superintendent of the Palmdale School District, held a workshop that was for faith-based organizations and people of the community. His presentation targeted pastors, ministries, priests, and bishops and their roles as community leaders to help close the gap.
Director of migrant, immigrant, and English learner programs for the Palmdale School District, Geoff Brown held a workshop that centered on English learners and other underachieving students. He believes his philosophical method of using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model, is a valuable approach in closing the gap.
The SIOP model is distinct in that it offers a field-tested protocol for systematic lesson planning, delivery, and assessment, making its application for teaching English learners transparent for both pre-service candidates preparing to be teachers and for practicing teachers engaged in staff development.
“The main thing that I think is important is that we really have to have high expectations for our students and know that they can achieve,” Brown said. “And when we do that, that’s the most important hurdle to get over, hold those high expectations and not accept anything less than our kids’ best.”
Perhaps the most enticing, entertaining, and encouraging was keynote speaker, Larry Bell.
Bell has been the keynote speaker at many conferences across the country including the National Association of Multicultural Education Conference and hundreds of other local and regional conferences.
Bell is a 25-year veteran in education—he’s been nominated for the National Agnes Mayer Outstanding Teacher Award. Bell discussed high expectations, test preparation strategies for all students, as well as motivational techniques to use in the classroom and at home.
According to the California Department of Education’s 2009-2010, the Academic Performance Index (API) reports, that the API scores for Hispanics in the Palmdale School District was 723. It was even lower for the African American population with a score of 675 when compared to a score of 795 for White students and a soaring score of 862 for Asians.
Bell says that believing in the children, believing in yourself, and do the little things everyday such as encouraging kids, doing vocabulary, reading every day, and never accept an excuse can be critical.
“The most effective way to get kids to do this as an adult is to be excited about it yourself,” Bell said. “The number one way to inspire children is to be inspired yourself.”
-By Donjai Richardson
Monday, November 15, 2010
NEWS: Former Student Arrested at Campus Bookstore
20-year-old Rodney Drummer was arrested at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 10 after an incident at the Antelope Valley College campus bookstore.
Drummer who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol went into the campus bookstore and apparently took some gum off a shelf and was believed by the clerk he was trying to steal it. Drummer then pushed the clerk and left the store.
The campus Sheriff’s arrived in seconds and arrested Drummer on charges of strong-arm robbery. Drummer was also a parolee and also faces a parole violation because of this.
Associates of Drummer were believed to have been intimidating the bookstore employees but no additional arrests have been made.
Deputy Miguel Ruiz said that this was the first major issue since the Sheriff’s
Department took over security at AVC in January.
Representatives at the bookstore declined to comment on the incident.
-By Antonio De La O
Drummer who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol went into the campus bookstore and apparently took some gum off a shelf and was believed by the clerk he was trying to steal it. Drummer then pushed the clerk and left the store.
The campus Sheriff’s arrived in seconds and arrested Drummer on charges of strong-arm robbery. Drummer was also a parolee and also faces a parole violation because of this.
Associates of Drummer were believed to have been intimidating the bookstore employees but no additional arrests have been made.
Deputy Miguel Ruiz said that this was the first major issue since the Sheriff’s
Department took over security at AVC in January.
Representatives at the bookstore declined to comment on the incident.
-By Antonio De La O
NEWS: Debate Team Competes Over Holiday Weekend
While the rest of the college celebrated the Veteran’s Day
holiday, the Antelope Valley College Debate Union attended the
It’s Great to Be Free Invitational representing AVC at Irvine
Valley College on November 12, 2010. 57 teams from throughout
California competed at the event. At this tournament, the top
two-year colleges competed on equal ground with many four-year
schools including UCLA, UCI, CSU San Bernardino, Azuza Pacific,
Point Loma Nazarene College (a former National Champion), Cal
Baptist University, and San Diego State University.
In her second tournament, Anna Delrosario received the 6th
Speaker award in Novice Parliamentary Debate. "This is a
difficult achievement especially given the size of the
tournament (i.e. the large number of competitors) and since many
competitors had significantly more experience having gone to
more debate tournaments," stated Kenneth Lee, Communication
Studies instructor and advisor to the team.
In addition, Anna and her partner, Brock Simon finished in the
top 10% of the tournament and made it to the elimination rounds.
They lost on a close 2-1 judge’s decision in their elimination
round and received a Bronze Medal for their well-deserved
achievement. Lee explained,“Brock and Anna have dedicated a lot
of free time and effort to develop their skills in critical
thinking, oral communication, and argumentation strategies.
Their unprecedented success is a testament to their their
potential as champion debaters and their hard work.” Both Anna
and Brock began their debate training in Professor Lee’s COMM
115 Argumentation and Debate class.
Other students participating in the debate tournament were
Yvette Amador, Bethany Arndt, Federico Zepeda, Julie McLaughlin,
Stephanie Smith, Tamara Leadbetter and Lanice Young.
The Antelope Valley College Debate Union is very pleased with
the results of their first tournament. The results of this first
tournament is an indicator of future success in the activity.
The College's students' potential in intercollegiate debate is
only matched by the enthusiasm and dedication that these
students are showing regarding the debate activity. The costs
of tournament competition are shouldered solely by Professor Lee
and the students.
For more information about the Antelope Valley College Debate
Union, contact the advisor Kenneth Lee (klee23@avc.edu, x6846)
Instructor in the Communication Studies Department.
holiday, the Antelope Valley College Debate Union attended the
It’s Great to Be Free Invitational representing AVC at Irvine
Valley College on November 12, 2010. 57 teams from throughout
California competed at the event. At this tournament, the top
two-year colleges competed on equal ground with many four-year
schools including UCLA, UCI, CSU San Bernardino, Azuza Pacific,
Point Loma Nazarene College (a former National Champion), Cal
Baptist University, and San Diego State University.
In her second tournament, Anna Delrosario received the 6th
Speaker award in Novice Parliamentary Debate. "This is a
difficult achievement especially given the size of the
tournament (i.e. the large number of competitors) and since many
competitors had significantly more experience having gone to
more debate tournaments," stated Kenneth Lee, Communication
Studies instructor and advisor to the team.
In addition, Anna and her partner, Brock Simon finished in the
top 10% of the tournament and made it to the elimination rounds.
They lost on a close 2-1 judge’s decision in their elimination
round and received a Bronze Medal for their well-deserved
achievement. Lee explained,“Brock and Anna have dedicated a lot
of free time and effort to develop their skills in critical
thinking, oral communication, and argumentation strategies.
Their unprecedented success is a testament to their their
potential as champion debaters and their hard work.” Both Anna
and Brock began their debate training in Professor Lee’s COMM
115 Argumentation and Debate class.
Other students participating in the debate tournament were
Yvette Amador, Bethany Arndt, Federico Zepeda, Julie McLaughlin,
Stephanie Smith, Tamara Leadbetter and Lanice Young.
The Antelope Valley College Debate Union is very pleased with
the results of their first tournament. The results of this first
tournament is an indicator of future success in the activity.
The College's students' potential in intercollegiate debate is
only matched by the enthusiasm and dedication that these
students are showing regarding the debate activity. The costs
of tournament competition are shouldered solely by Professor Lee
and the students.
For more information about the Antelope Valley College Debate
Union, contact the advisor Kenneth Lee (klee23@avc.edu, x6846)
Instructor in the Communication Studies Department.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
NEWS: AVC Sets Its Sights on Foreign Soil
Members of Antelope Valley College’s faculty gathered mid-October to discuss the advent of the college’s international education workshop, a venture charted to offer new classes and new degrees to students.
The International Education Workshop (IEW) will create three new degrees: Associates in Science focusing on International Business, Associates in Arts for International Studies focusing on Humanities, and lastly, Associates in Arts for International Studies focusing on Sciences.
These degrees will open up opportunities to the college by further unifying interlocking departments, and establishing an easier, more free-flowing curriculum for students looking to transfer into communications or sciences, as well as opening the gate to foreign exchange programs and international field trips.
English professor Kristine Oliveira expressed her excitement about the program, citing that not only will it give the college more notoriety but also allow for more students to pursue fields that they might be interested in.
Oliveira is the IEW’s faculty lead, overseeing the program in its entirety, but also helping to internationalize the curriculum currently taught at AVC. Her hope is that more culture can be brought in through the efforts of the cooperating departments of, Language Arts, History, Sciences, and college counselors.
“So far we have 15 faculty members pledging their assistance,” says Oliveira, “each of them has a project they are working on; some have more than one.”
IEW has been plotted in three chronological tiers: short term, mid-term, and long term. Short term objectives are hoped for within the next year. Mid-term goals are anticipated as being one to two years. And long term goals are anything beyond that point.
The International Education program has set its short term objectives as having established their three degree programs, coordinating with college faculty to support the required classes and to gain aid from other educational institutes, and possibly send student overseas on field trips and short term study agendas.
Mid- to Long Term plans are grouped together in an overall hopeful stage that is interchangeable between full-time foreign exchange programs and having an on-site international studies representative, and in the extended term, an associated department.
Communication students have praised the idea thus far and have expressed an overall interest in the program.
Communication students have praised the idea thus far and have expressed an overall interest in the program.
“It is a great idea for interpreters,” touts a communication major named Jessie, whose aspirations include working for the United Nations or with a United States embassy. As a sophomore, her time at AVC is nearly over, but she hopes the program helps future students make their way into her major.
Science majors and English students have agreed, indicating that while the program will be in full swing after their departure from AVC’s grounds, they believe that the next influx of overseas hopefuls have a bright path ahead of them.
For more information, join the “Int'l Ed Workgroup” found in the Groups section of MyAVC at www.avc.edu.
-Nick Nahin
Thursday, November 4, 2010
100th post and a chance to win $25
You'll still need to find a print copy of the examiner to find the related article that tells you how to do this but to make it a bit more fair for those of you who don't have a QR code reader here's the QR image.
FEATURES: Fable Seeks to Enchant Players A Third Time
Innovation has a long history of hit or miss in the gaming community and the Fable franchise is no exception. The first Fable sought to give players a sense of heroism, and largely succeeded.
The second Fable aimed at instilling emotion in players, but landed on its face. So the question is, does the third installment, Fable 3, succeed in its quest?
“Fable 3 is all about power. It’s about making you feel powerful,” said Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios in an interview with the gaming news site, IGN.
So, do players feel powerful?
Where the first two games started players off in humility, Fable 3 does nothing of the sort.
Players begin as a prince (or princess) of the fictional kingdom of Albion whose parent was a renowned hero and former ruler of the land. Already established is the fact that your brother is the current ruler, and that there is a political storm brewing, centering on the people and the throne. This is where you come to play.
As with all Fables, the plot takes off with someone’s death, and in this case, becomes the catalyst for your character’s abandonment of title and pursuit of revolution. Your brother has been a bad boy, and with the help of various individuals throughout Albion, you intend to overthrow him and take his place.
This is both where Fable 3 gains my praise and my ridicule. The story is ambitious by nature, but flawed in its execution. It was nice to see Molyneux tackle the concept of civil war, but linear plot ravages the plot in unspeakable ways like a carpet bombing.
Never did I feel more led by the hand in a fantasy game like I did in Fable 3. From start to climax, I felt as if no decision was truly my own, but rather the result of someone else’s choice.
In order to overthrow your brother, you will need support from the respected members of various factions in the kingdom, but in order to gain their support, you must perform an errand, or two, or three, and you never get to decide what order to do them, really.
It becomes tedious, especially with your butler telling you to come to your hideout (the pause menu) every time you accomplish something significant. The hideout is a nice feature; the fact you are recalled to it so often is not.
What would have been nice, or at the least better, would have been the choice to encounter the would-be allies in whichever order I deemed fit, or for that matter, which of them I actually wanted to ally myself with. Suppose I would rather fight alongside a soldier-turned-bandit rather than an old gypsy man, Lionhead!
Fables one and two boasted the importance of choices, so why do I feel restricted to a set path in a game meant to make me feel powerful?
Inevitably, you will become king or queen of Albion. The game tells you this time after time after time. It is at that point that the real purpose of Fable 3 comes to light. How do you rule your country?
By the flip of a coin, really, or at least that’s how I did it. The choices at this point in game become so blatantly good or bad that there is no thought required in them supposing your character has a moral bearing in mind. And even being the king of a land I fought to obtain did not offer me the power that I was looking for.
The story just isn’t there to make this happen. Sad, considering how much Molyneux was proud of giving players control over a monarchy.
The real shining moments of Fable 3 come from the combat. It is true that there are fewer weapons and technically less powers than the previous games, but what few there are, are magnificent.
Depending upon what accomplishments players make in their run through the game, their melee and ranged weapons will transform, changing in appearance and in some cases acquiring new traits and flashier finishing moves. It is a neat idea and one I approve of, though requires tuning and perhaps more customization.
Spells are able to be combined, unleashing dual effects, which is a step in the right direction. The decrease in actual powers is supplemented by the fact that some of the older powers, such as time slowing, are now found via potions and the like. This allows players to react faster, time their abilities more effectively and overall adds to the “powerful” feeling Molyneux mentioned.
What the combat won’t save you from are the many bugs that infest Fable 3. Frame rate drops, infinite loops, and improperly activating triggers are just some of the nuisances you are likely to encounter. In one situation, I witnessed my character fall through the ground and become stuck in the nothingness beneath it, prompting me to restart the game.
Bugs like these are game breakers in the same way that not shifting gear will cause your car to stop working. I only hope for a speedy update that fixes these problems, or else I can envision many returned copies of Fable 3.
In the end, I am left wondering how it is that a game intended to bestow power could feel so weak. The third installment should have learned from previous mistakes, but instead,
Molyneux and his team have made the same as before.
If you loved the first two games, then I can’t keep you from snatching up this recent release, but if you are like me and you want more meat in your games, Fable 3 is not going to be king of your collection.
-By Nick Nahin
SPORTS: AVC ties in its last home game of the season
The Marauders (6-9-3, 3-6-2) ended their last home game of the season with a 2-2 tie against conference rivals Victor Valley. They failed to hold the crucial one-point lead in the second half.
In the 31st minute of the second half Leslie Chinchilla scored on a through ball, after a string of attempts in the first half. Five minutes later, in the 26th minute, Marisol Vite’s shot attempt hit the right side of the crossbar and Daniela Deleon was there as she scored her second goal of the season.
Down a score, Victor Valley tied the game in the 13th minute 2-2.
AVC, just as the previous game against Desert in which they won 1-0, had a depth of nine players. Ashley Oettli has been injured for about a month now and Monica Parra missed her third game with a concussion — she suffered on the road against. Ooshani Solorzano and Crystal Montoya were red-carded in the previous game against Desert, so they had to sit this one out.
Solorzano’s presence was definitely missed, there was no outside threat so Victor Valley could cake up the middle of the field — she plays a winger.
AVC’s season finale is on the road Tuesday Friday November 9 at Mt. San Jacinto at 3 p.m. Solorzano lifted AVC over them 1-0 in the previous matchup. She will play this game.
In the 31st minute of the second half Leslie Chinchilla scored on a through ball, after a string of attempts in the first half. Five minutes later, in the 26th minute, Marisol Vite’s shot attempt hit the right side of the crossbar and Daniela Deleon was there as she scored her second goal of the season.
Down a score, Victor Valley tied the game in the 13th minute 2-2.
AVC, just as the previous game against Desert in which they won 1-0, had a depth of nine players. Ashley Oettli has been injured for about a month now and Monica Parra missed her third game with a concussion — she suffered on the road against. Ooshani Solorzano and Crystal Montoya were red-carded in the previous game against Desert, so they had to sit this one out.
Solorzano’s presence was definitely missed, there was no outside threat so Victor Valley could cake up the middle of the field — she plays a winger.
AVC’s season finale is on the road Tuesday Friday November 9 at Mt. San Jacinto at 3 p.m. Solorzano lifted AVC over them 1-0 in the previous matchup. She will play this game.
-By Donjai Richardson
November first and second AVC was host to a Day of the Dead celebration.
Sasha Couchas getting her face painted by Salina Becerra at the celebration.
Christine Puga wearing tradition Dia de los Muertos garb in front of art by Felix Perex.
Marjorie Esparza modeling some of the art displayed for the celebration.
-By Jason Hemsath
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
FEATURES: Costume Contest
Daniel Johnson won Scariest Costume as the fearsome Grim Reaper.
Kameala Elizares won most original as a curiosity named a Panda Vam-pirate. (Right)
The last category - Best Group - was Tracy Varnado, Elizabeth Garrett, Jeley Rostram, Marina Leetoy, Esmerelda Corona, Diane Martinez, Peggy Sosa and Jennifer Cook of CalWorks who comprised this victorious group. The Cal Works department also won the Best Door contest. Other notables were Ryan Fynch as Excalibur, Trina Brown as a Vampire Prince, and Tinisha Sischo as a dead police officer. All in all, it was quite an exciting event.
-Photos and story by Jason Hemsath and Chris Gonzalez
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
OPINION: The War on Scissors
Students of Antelope Valley College, consider yourselves forewarned. It won’t be long until the “No use of Scissors on Campus Act” is flagged and tagged on every opportune window across campus.
The utter appall for scissors and their malicious capabilities came to a serious consideration a week ago.
In class, students exercised an impromptu debate on why a gadget like scissors could potentially make the school “look shameless”.
It was a savage storm in the form of an in class debate and the lines were well drawn. One student from the right side of the room, the stiff working and undoubtedly teeth grinding pencil pushing team, exclaimed a harsh possibility that a foe student could ruin one’s vogue with a few easy snips to the back of her head.
This in turn would be punishable by the law, forcing the A.V Press to cover a story on “Weapons and the AVC Campus Mentality”.
The intellectuals rose from the left side of the room in a pompous growl. Who could blame them, and their failure to understand the hard working man’s beckoning call.
All pieces to the scissor puzzle were thrown askew that morning; the pieces to any form of result lay scattered about the room like crumbs from an unwanted Doritos bag.
The left declared a need for scissors on campus, a particular need, a craving that couldn’t be appreciated, understood or participated by all. But for some, scissor addicts and paper cutting junkies, a scissor ban on campus would mean devastation, castration, and even suicide.
The debate lasted through the morning and detained no signs of stopping, not even for a smoke break, I’m not sure if smoking is permissible these days either, there may be some correlation, but I’ll leave that up to an investigative journalist.
The wisest and most cunning breed of man, he who can bring two arguing bodies together, was all that this room of impromptu debate needed.
A young man, and well-esteemed poet, Elliot Rigby pulled out his scissors from his glam dazzled satchel bag and stood up loudly. With the kind of presence that brings the loudest man to an inaudible squeak.
In his right hand, he clutched the unwanted school supply and held it up, stabbing the air.
The room fell silent, not a gasp to be accounted for, all lonely eyes looked up to Rigby.
The room was still split, in scissor ideology, some were patient and the others were perturbed. Still, like a slow motion scene in a film, all eyes dreamed toward Rigby.
Rigby opened his mouth, to say the seven words that the soldiers of democracy in that lonely room would never forget, and it reads, “Do not tell me how to think”.
It just might as well have come from the bible; I doubt the ancient writers of it could speak in holy numbers as poetically and demonstratively.
Although for a moment, a lapse in time introduced a certain level of confusion, for what Rigby said was not only out of context, but somewhat asinine.
Nowhere along the lines did he seem to deal with issue at hand, but coincidentally this was the catalyst to a social frenzy, in hope to keep intact humility and respect for the opinions of their peers in the impromptu debate room.
It got weirder, at a time where nothing ever stops getting weird; the bar was raised that day. Students began to think of a reasonable way to satisfy the needs of one another.
They no longer took the form of community college students; they had transcended their beings towards the thoughts and actions of educated romantics.
Every able and handsome man found his counterpart that day, as well as an agreement on a designation for those with the scissor using habit.
Sadly, their collaborations on that Tuesday morning will have been in vain. The attitude of the administration stands, and has put down a giant foot, blocking any hope of rationalizing with “the situation.”
Not to say the big man upstairs didn’t gain anything from this frenzied debate. An inter-collegiate debate is any administrations first tool of distraction when it comes to the war of “Student Life on Campus”.
Well, you’ve got em’ talking about it, at least we can use scissors in the parking lot, the one last shred of light that hits the eye of a panicked scissor addict who is subjected to the confines of such a rule or campus law, no pity for The devil mind you.
My condolence goes out to the death of the optimism that was born that random morning. Any talk or framework for a designated scissor use area might never become tangible.
The only useful place for scissors is in the parking lot, where the paper cutters should be.
The winter season and its unpredictable and somewhat brutal weather might force us scissor users into our cars, to prevent them from rusting.
But what sort of fate is in store for those who are subjected to public transportation? There will be no overhang, no gazebo; plainly no shelter to protect your scissors.
Please, AVC administration, give us a designated place to use our scissors. We won’t use them as weapons, as long as you don’t make them seem like weapons.
The use of scissors is a luxury, but sometimes, more than you may know, they are a necessity.
If this debate ever leaves the classroom, I hope you, as an administrative body can work with us, students and faculty, and have a fair meeting on the grounds of this scissor war.
We, under the student and faculty relationship, share a common nerve. Neither of us wants any casualties.
For an institution of higher levels of thinking to not only strive, but thrive, it must not only listen to the opinions of students, but also compliment and return the favor with more than an explanation, but an active collaboration.
Controversial issues like the proper use and designation of scissors on campus can be married with a good idea. Good ideas by nature satisfy every side, every angle, and will always remain the closest thing to perfect.
The action we take with ideas should not stray from their original intent. Look at the issue at hand, and with a consensual good idea, I’m sure we can coexist, and let the administration focus on real problems, like budget, ACCREDIDATION, OR THE TORN DOWN PARKING LOT.
The utter appall for scissors and their malicious capabilities came to a serious consideration a week ago.
In class, students exercised an impromptu debate on why a gadget like scissors could potentially make the school “look shameless”.
It was a savage storm in the form of an in class debate and the lines were well drawn. One student from the right side of the room, the stiff working and undoubtedly teeth grinding pencil pushing team, exclaimed a harsh possibility that a foe student could ruin one’s vogue with a few easy snips to the back of her head.
This in turn would be punishable by the law, forcing the A.V Press to cover a story on “Weapons and the AVC Campus Mentality”.
The intellectuals rose from the left side of the room in a pompous growl. Who could blame them, and their failure to understand the hard working man’s beckoning call.
All pieces to the scissor puzzle were thrown askew that morning; the pieces to any form of result lay scattered about the room like crumbs from an unwanted Doritos bag.
The left declared a need for scissors on campus, a particular need, a craving that couldn’t be appreciated, understood or participated by all. But for some, scissor addicts and paper cutting junkies, a scissor ban on campus would mean devastation, castration, and even suicide.
The debate lasted through the morning and detained no signs of stopping, not even for a smoke break, I’m not sure if smoking is permissible these days either, there may be some correlation, but I’ll leave that up to an investigative journalist.
The wisest and most cunning breed of man, he who can bring two arguing bodies together, was all that this room of impromptu debate needed.
A young man, and well-esteemed poet, Elliot Rigby pulled out his scissors from his glam dazzled satchel bag and stood up loudly. With the kind of presence that brings the loudest man to an inaudible squeak.
In his right hand, he clutched the unwanted school supply and held it up, stabbing the air.
The room fell silent, not a gasp to be accounted for, all lonely eyes looked up to Rigby.
The room was still split, in scissor ideology, some were patient and the others were perturbed. Still, like a slow motion scene in a film, all eyes dreamed toward Rigby.
Rigby opened his mouth, to say the seven words that the soldiers of democracy in that lonely room would never forget, and it reads, “Do not tell me how to think”.
It just might as well have come from the bible; I doubt the ancient writers of it could speak in holy numbers as poetically and demonstratively.
Although for a moment, a lapse in time introduced a certain level of confusion, for what Rigby said was not only out of context, but somewhat asinine.
Nowhere along the lines did he seem to deal with issue at hand, but coincidentally this was the catalyst to a social frenzy, in hope to keep intact humility and respect for the opinions of their peers in the impromptu debate room.
It got weirder, at a time where nothing ever stops getting weird; the bar was raised that day. Students began to think of a reasonable way to satisfy the needs of one another.
They no longer took the form of community college students; they had transcended their beings towards the thoughts and actions of educated romantics.
Every able and handsome man found his counterpart that day, as well as an agreement on a designation for those with the scissor using habit.
Sadly, their collaborations on that Tuesday morning will have been in vain. The attitude of the administration stands, and has put down a giant foot, blocking any hope of rationalizing with “the situation.”
Not to say the big man upstairs didn’t gain anything from this frenzied debate. An inter-collegiate debate is any administrations first tool of distraction when it comes to the war of “Student Life on Campus”.
Well, you’ve got em’ talking about it, at least we can use scissors in the parking lot, the one last shred of light that hits the eye of a panicked scissor addict who is subjected to the confines of such a rule or campus law, no pity for The devil mind you.
My condolence goes out to the death of the optimism that was born that random morning. Any talk or framework for a designated scissor use area might never become tangible.
The only useful place for scissors is in the parking lot, where the paper cutters should be.
The winter season and its unpredictable and somewhat brutal weather might force us scissor users into our cars, to prevent them from rusting.
But what sort of fate is in store for those who are subjected to public transportation? There will be no overhang, no gazebo; plainly no shelter to protect your scissors.
Please, AVC administration, give us a designated place to use our scissors. We won’t use them as weapons, as long as you don’t make them seem like weapons.
The use of scissors is a luxury, but sometimes, more than you may know, they are a necessity.
If this debate ever leaves the classroom, I hope you, as an administrative body can work with us, students and faculty, and have a fair meeting on the grounds of this scissor war.
We, under the student and faculty relationship, share a common nerve. Neither of us wants any casualties.
For an institution of higher levels of thinking to not only strive, but thrive, it must not only listen to the opinions of students, but also compliment and return the favor with more than an explanation, but an active collaboration.
Controversial issues like the proper use and designation of scissors on campus can be married with a good idea. Good ideas by nature satisfy every side, every angle, and will always remain the closest thing to perfect.
The action we take with ideas should not stray from their original intent. Look at the issue at hand, and with a consensual good idea, I’m sure we can coexist, and let the administration focus on real problems, like budget, ACCREDIDATION, OR THE TORN DOWN PARKING LOT.
-By Wes Horowitz
SPORTS: Pursing the "American Dream"
Over the years the AVC sports programs has embraced a large number of fine talents. Stefanie and twin sister Carolina Zabala are two of those many talents.
The 20 year-old tandems are international transfer students in their first semester at AVC, where they play for the soccer team. They came to the United States from Bolivia, South America.
“It was like a dream to come here and play soccer,” Stefanie said about coming to America. “It was something to accomplish.”
The Zabala twins attended Private University of Santa Cruz, Bolivia (UPSA) — or as it’s pronounce in South America, Private University of Santa de la Sierra — where they played for six months.
According to the Zabala’s, when it comes to distinguishing South American soccer and American soccer, it’s all about discipline. They favor the American ways of soccer because it’s better organized, structured, and the players are treated with a little more respect.
“Coach is very disciplined, he is always trying to make us better players,” Stefanie said about AVC head coach Jerry Stupar. “In South America they don’t concentrate so much on the players, it’s more on the game.
“The women’s soccer is very good in South America, but here the disciplinary actions give American soccer the edge,” Stefanie said.
The duo comes from a close-knit family of four, they have an older brother and a younger sister. They accredit their father for inspiring them to come to America. They refer to a conversation with a close friend for persuading them to attend AVC.
The girls have been involved in organized soccer since the age of six. Recollections of family trips to professional soccer games in their hometown and influential cousins have kept them in uniform and on the turf. Needless to say, the coaching staff and players have embraced them with enthusiasm.
Especially Stupar.
Stupar said that there was an “immediate connection,” nationality wise, when he first heard of the arrival of the Zabalas.
“I was excited to see what deal was,” Stupar said.
Stupar is half Italian and one-fourth Croatian. The Zabala’s are also part Croatian, which has led to the dubbing nickname the “Croatians Sensations” as Stupar likes to call them. Besides the heritage link was their shared passions for the game.
They have a big passion for the game,” Stupar said. “Their passion for the game makes them exciting to be around.”
Relocating to another country isn’t easy for most, but the Zabala’s have had no problem adapting to and tapping into the American culture. A key obstacle they’re in progress of fully achieving is the English language. Stefanie said that the twins had a “base of the English language before transferring.”
“In Bolivia we took English classes for a long time, but it’s not the same, when you talk with someone here, Carolina said, who is older than Stefanie by one minute. “We’ve improved so much.”
“They take feedback well as well as constructive criticism,” Stupar said. “They never give up. I never have to question whether or not they have to work hard.”
The two freshmen have not seen much playing this season, and are not deterred by it, but more motivated to earn some more of the coach’s trust. Stefanie and Carolina have, and continue to share the same educational goals in life. Both are majoring in fashion and want to minor in business. Eventually, they want to open their own fashion shop.
-By Donjai Richardson
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